- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 110 days
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Type: Pumpkin, Winter Squash (Learn more)
Native: Southern South America
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 10'–15' vines
Variety Info: 15"–18" diameter fruits weighing 18–20 pounds each, with bright red-orange, highly warted skin. 'Red Warty Thing' is a cross between 'American Turban' and 'Hubbard'-type squash, making it more of a squash than a pumpkin. Amount of "wartiness" can vary from fruit to fruit
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–90°F.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly in the ground. Transplant after your average last frost date, when weather is warm and settled.
Days to Emerge: 7–14 days
Seed Depth: 1"
Seed Spacing: 2–3 seeds per mound
Row Spacing: 4'–6' apart
Thinning: When several leaves, thin to 1 –2 per mound
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Harvest pumpkins before the first fall frost, and when foliage has begun to dry out. Cut stem with a knife, leaving 3"–4" of stem on the pumpkin. Do not hold the pumpkin by the stem; if stem attachment gets broken, or any part of the pumpkin bruises, the pumpkin may rot. Brush off any dirt or leaves. Ideally, cure at 80°-85°F and 80–85% humidity or a warm, sunny spot with good air circulation for 1 to 2 weeks before eating or storage. Do not allow harvested fruit to get wet.
- VeroVerified ReviewerRated 4 out of 5 stars10/27/25Lots of sweet flesh!!
Only one vine survived and 1 pumpkin grew. 9.28lb Impressive amount of flesh! Baked it and make empanadas, pancakes and chili!
Very tasty, baked beautifully
Two year old toddler hands for scale
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests10/28/25Hey Vero,
Thank you so much for this fantastic 4-star review! "9.28lb" from just one pumpkin with an "impressive amount of flesh" is exactly what we love to hear about Red Warty Thing Pumpkin Seeds - and we absolutely love that you were able to create such an amazing variety of delicious dishes from your single beautiful harvest!
"Empanadas, pancakes and chili" - wow, what incredible versatility you discovered with your Red Warty Thing pumpkin! "Very tasty" and "baked beautifully" is music to our ears - there's nothing quite like experiencing that perfect sweet flesh and wonderful baking quality that makes this variety so special for all kinds of cooking adventures!
Ha! We love the toddler hands for scale - that really shows just how impressive that 9.28lb beauty turned out to be! Even though only one vine survived, you still got such rewarding results that demonstrate exactly how productive and delicious Red Warty Thing Pumpkins can be when they're happy!
Your harvest success and creative cooking experience will be so inspiring for other gardeners who want to discover just how flavorful and versatile Red Warty Thing Pumpkin Seeds can be for creating those amazing single-pumpkin feasts that deliver incredible taste and cooking possibilities!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- BrentVerified ReviewerRated 4 out of 5 stars8/27/25Different but cool
Honestly, I was expecting this to be a lot rounder and redder, but aside from the wartiness, it was almost shaped like a lemon or a pear, and on the more yellower side. I grew it on an arbor so maybe that helps explain it's odd formation.
Definitely eye catching but probably wouldn't grow it again.
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerBIBotanical Interests8/29/25Hey Brent,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our Red Warty Thing Pumpkin Seeds! We really appreciate your honest feedback about the shape and color - it sounds like you got quite the unique specimen! Red Warty Thing can definitely be variable in its appearance, and growing it on an arbor could have influenced that elongated, pear-like shape you described. Sometimes when pumpkins hang vertically instead of sitting on the ground, gravity can really affect how they develop. The color can also shift more toward the yellow spectrum depending on growing conditions and maturity timing. We love that you found it eye-catching despite it not matching your expectations - that warty texture really does make for a distinctive display piece! Thanks for giving it a try and for the thoughtful review about your growing experience. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Sonyaa C.Rated 5 out of 5 stars8/15/25Birds Love'em!
I am down to one germinated seed because our lakeside birds ate most of them. I have covered the last one with bird netting and guarding it with my life!!! I'm counting down the 110 days, which I can easily get in Texas Zone 8b. I may have to pull a week early because we sometimes get our first frost mid-November. Cheers!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests8/15/25Hey Sonyaa,
Thank you so much for sharing your hilarious and relatable Red Warty Thing adventure! Those lakeside birds clearly have excellent taste in pumpkin varieties! It's so funny how they always seem to know exactly which plants we're most excited about. Your dedication is going to pay off with some truly unique and spectacular pumpkins! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Isabelle G.Verified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 stars9/30/241 Star
Germination rate was a little low. Then, the plants that did come up were weak. Some snapped off on a windy day. The clincher? 3 plants grew normally, but did not make a single pumpkin. I was really looking forward to some pretty red pumpkins. I didn’t get a single one.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertBIBotanical Interests10/3/24Hey Isabelle,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Brian H.Rated 5 out of 5 stars8/31/245 Stars
This sure is a fun one to grow and prolific too. I have about 15 of these Red Warty Thing Pumpkins. I grew them because I want to try a variety of winter squash out. These are nice and sweet tasting too with very thick smooth flesh. 3" to 4" thick! Great for roasting. Some had lots of warts and some were smoother. I will definitely grow this one again.
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate